** Please note, this event took place in 2024. These are some of the activities that took place. Keep an eye on this page for exciting details of the 2025 event **
This is a FREE event - no ticket required to attend the event.*
Part of the Ards and North down Taste Summer Programme of events. To view the full programme, click here.
The annual Comber Earlies Food Festival is a wonderful day out filled with family fun, cookery demos in the Festival Kitchen and activities that celebrate the Comber Earlies potato which holds PGI Status.
Returning to Comber Leisure Centre Car Park on Saturday 22 June, 11am - 5pm enjoy a wealth of artisan food and drink stalls, vintage tractor display, celebrity chef demos, children's entertainment and lots more foodie favourites at this free family event!
Come along to Comber and celebrate its famed potato, with chefs showcasing their culinary talents, discussions with food heroes, live music throughout the day, and an Artisan Bar – why not try a local beer brewed by McBride’s in the Square, Comber as well as other breweries from the area? A festival not to be missed!
Comber Earlies Food Festival is organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council and supported through collaboration with Comber Regeneration Community Partnership - CRCP and Comber Earlies Growers' Co-operative.
This event has received funding from DAERA’s Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.
Festival Kitchen
Rachel Allen | A bestselling cookery writer, TV chef and celebrated teacher at the world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork, Ireland.
She is a popular figure in the culinary world, with an international audience for her bestselling cookery books and food writing, her live demonstrations, and her much-loved television programmes. Rachel was co-host of Good Food Channel’s Market Kitchen, has appeared on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, and currently co-hosts The Restaurant alongside Marco Pierre White for RTE as well as writing a weekly food column for the Sunday Independent. Read more about Rachel.
Lotte Duncan | is a skilled and highly experienced broadcaster. We are delighted to welcome Lotte back to Comber for the festival this year. Recognised as a leading authority on English cooking, she brings thirty years of food experience to her television presenting, live stage hosting and compering with a light, friendly and humorous touch. Read more about Lotte.
Local chefs | There will also be a variety of local chefs wowing us with their culinary talents, including, Jim Mulholland from No. 14 The Georgian House, Comber, along with Gavin Murphy from The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn. Read more about our guest chefs.
Festival Kitchen Schedule (subject to change)
Lottie Duncan | 11.00 - 11.30
Rachel Allen | 11.30 - 12.00
Jim Mulholland (No14 Georgian House) | 12.00 - 12.30
Rachel Allen | 12.30 - 13.00
SERC College | 13.00 - 13.30
Gavin Murphy (The Old Inn) | 14.00 - 14.30
SERC College | 15.00 - 15.30
Rachel Allen | 15.30 - 16.00
SERC College | 16.00 - 16.30
Food Producers Stage
12noon – 5pm
Local food producers showcase their products as they chat with Lotte Duncan throughout the day.
Food Producers Schedule (subject to change)
12:00 Richard Orr - William Orr and Sons
12:30 Wayne Adair/Artie Clifford - Papas Mineral Company/Blas na hEireann
13:00 Catriona Hill - Hill’s Mix Tape
13:30 Jack Hamilton - Mash Direct
14:00 Gareth Irvine - Copeland Distillery
14:30 Bryan Boggs - Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt
15:00 Stephen & Lorraine Alexander - Ballyboley Dexters
15:30 Carlos Capparelli - Capparelli Cooks
16:00 Will Taylor - Glastry Farm Ice-cream
Comber Cookery School
Try your hand at some traditional Comber Earlies recipes, cook your own delicious dish, under South Eastern Regional College chefs’ guidance.
Recipe inspiration
There are many ways to cook these famous potatoes, here is some inspiration for you to try at home - Comber Earlies recipes.
Childrens activities
Enjoy walkabout entertainment, fun with Mr and Mrs Potato Head, ride on tractors, soil pit, sensory activities and paint your own ceramic themed decoration to take home with you. And keep an eye out for golden spuds, hidden throughout the event site. If you find one bring it to the Visitor Information Caravan (Opposite the Leisure Centre entrance within the event site) to claim your prize. (One prize per person)
Comber Earlies Food Festival Passport
Saturday 22 June | 11am – 5pm | Comber multiple locations
On Saturday 22 June, pick up your Comber Earlies Food Festival Passport to enjoy lots of fun at locations around the town.
Visit 13 locations around the town and get your passport stamped at each participating business * check individual store timings*.
From food and drink, to arts, crafts, gaming and more….All participating retailers will have activities, giveaways or offers, to entertain the kids who visit their shops.
Then bring your completed passport to the Visitor Information Caravan located in Comber Leisure Centre Carpark, to claim your prize on Saturday 22 June, 11am - 5pm.
Passports will be available from 11am on Sat 22 June at the Visitor Information Caravan located in Comber Leisure Centre Carpark (opposite the Leisure Centre entrance) or in any of the participating businesses - *check individual store timings*
Passport activities are free but are subject to change and availability.
Find out about Comber Earlies Food Festival Passport and participating businesses.
Music Entertainment
Stage | Leisure Centre Car Park
12.30pm - 2.30pm | Stick With It Band
3pm – 5pm | The Broken String Band
For over 15 years, the Broken String Band have been purveying great bluegrass, roots and string band music.
The band have played at many major events and festivals, in Belfast and beyond, from private parties to ‘The One Show’. Their eclectic repertoire – from Doc Watson to Aerosmith – keeps the ears interested, the feet tapping and the craic mighty.
Brass Bands in Comber Square
12noon – 1.30pm Lily of the Valley
2pm - 3.30pm Comber Brass Band
3.30pm – 4pm Comber Youth
*Comber Earlies Food Festival is a free to attend event. Charges may apply to some event activities and purchases at the event.
Sustainability
We encourage visitors to travel via public transport and buses provided. There are fresh water stations on site, so bring along your refillable bottles and reusable bags to pick up goodies at the event. Please dispose of rubbish in the recycling stations provided. Read more about Sustainability.
Please note:
- This event is a no drone zone. Only official event drones authorised by the event organisers are permitted
Closure information
Parking | To facilitate the set-up of the event there will be a closure of the car park at Comber Leisure Centre from Thursday 20 June at 6am reopening the morning of Sunday 23 June at 11am
Bridge Street Link
There will be a closure of Bridge Street Link on ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ป๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฎ๐บ – ๐ฑ๐ฝ๐บ, with access only for Bridge Street Link businesses and accessible parking spaces, (on a first come first served basis, limited availability).
Comber Earlies Food Festival - Plan Your Trip
To make your day our as enjoyable as possible, please use this Plan Your Trip Section, which will give you more information about:
- How to travel to the event by car or public transport.
- Parking
- Free Shuttle Buses, facilitating:
- Bangor - Newtownards - Comber
- Dunlady P&R, Dundonald - Comber
- Downpatrick – Killyleagh – Comber
- Event Site Useful Information - covering topics including: Visitor Information Caravan | Recycling | Accessibility | First Aid | Lost children and Vulnerable adults | Dogs | Stay sun safe.
โโโFurther detail to follow - Keep checking back to the website, follow our facebook page or sign up to our ezine for updates.
[Please note, details subject to change. This event is being photographed/filmed. Images may be used in Ards and North Down Borough Council promotional material. If you do not want your image to be used, please inform our event staff].
For more information on safe alcohol consumption, visit the Drink Aware website.
The Comber Earlies crop, are the first harvest of the season and are full of flavour. Comber Earlies potatoes have enjoyed Protected Geographical Indication status since 2012. The preferred method of cooking is steaming.
Ours is a place to escape to, slow down and feed your spirit Ards and North Down is defined by lush fertile fields and sweeping loughs, even the furthest reaches are within an hour of Belfast. Savour our award-winning local food and drink, be inspired by creative makers, artists and musicians and immerse yourself in our rich heritage.
